Man’s life, children threatened, Court told

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 11

Man’s life, children threatened, Court told

PA Rotorua David Sticovich’s life and children were threatened after the news broke of his wife’s death, the District Court at Rotorua has been told.

Sticovich, aged 30, of Kaitaia, has been charged with the murder of his wife Michele Ann Sticovich, who died after a parcel bomb exploded at her Norrie Place, Rotorua, home on August 26. She died instantly of multiple injury consistent with a bomb blast, according to Dr E. M. Taylor, the Rotorua pathologist who

performed the post-mortem, examination.

On the second day of the deposition hearing before Judge Richardson, of Hamilton, a former business partner of the accused told of hearing threats and a bribe.

Phillip Norman Zambucka, of Kaikohe, formerly in partnership with Sticovich at Far North Printers, Kaitaia, said he listened on an extension telephone and heard a caller make threats to Sticovich and his children.

The caller asked for money not to carry out his

threats and said he knew who killed Michele Sticovich.

Earlier, Mr Zambucka told of Sticovich’s expertise in electrical work at the business premises. He also said the defendant had left for Rotorua to pick up his children on August 22. When he had returned on August 26, he had shaved off a beard.

Stanley Alfred Julian, a bulk store manager at the Northern Dairy Company, Kaitaia, told of selling explosives — four sticks of gelignite, eight detonators and a coil of fuse to the. defendant on May 1 last year. Two Kaitaia men, Grant Kingsley Hart, a fisherman, and Leslie Thomas Mitchell, a fanner, spoke of Sticovich’s competence with gelignite which he had used to clear drains on two properties.

Ms Ann Mclntyre, a Kaitaia farmer, said she spoke to Michele and David Sticovich as a Family Court counsellor in May, 1984. At that time Sticovich had been determined that the marriage had broken down and that there was no hope of reconciliation.

Twenty-six of the 65 witnesses have now given evidence at the hearing which is expected to end next week.

Mr Stan Thorburn, Auckland, appears for the defendant and the Rotorua Crown solicitor, Mr Pat Savage, with him Mr John McDonald, appear for the Crown.